Events
The Sarasota season
Opera and ballet in winter, film and food festivals in spring, powerboats in summer and sand sculptures in the fall. Here is the year at a glance.
Every week
Saturdays, downtown
Sarasota Farmers Market
Held every Saturday morning, year-round, along Lemon Avenue downtown, with local produce, flowers, baked goods and crafts. Arrive early for the best of it.
Mondays, Bay Shore Road
The Ringling on Mondays
The Museum of Art at the Ringling is free on Mondays, a fine start to the week.
Winter: high season
Winter season
Sarasota Opera
The company’s main season fills the historic opera house downtown through the winter months.
Late winter
Forks & Corks
Sarasota-Manatee Originals’ food and wine festival brings winemakers and the area’s independent restaurants together.
All season
Theater and ballet
Asolo Rep, the Sarasota Ballet and the Van Wezel are in full swing. See Arts & Culture.
Spring: festivals and long evenings
Spring
Sarasota Film Festival
A week and more of independent films, premieres and parties at venues across downtown.
March to May
Beach season begins
Water warms, the sunsets grow later and the bay is at its clearest. See Beach Days.
Summer: quiet beaches and fireworks
Around the Fourth of July
Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix
Offshore powerboat races off Lido Key, part of a week of festival events supporting local children’s charities.
July 4
Fourth of July
Fireworks over the bay and the beaches. Watch from the water on a private charter.
Fall: the season returns
November
Siesta Key Crystal Classic
Master sand sculptors from around the world compete on the quartz sand of Siesta Beach.
October and November
Arts season opens
Companies announce their seasons and the first performances return to downtown stages.
Dates change from year to year. Always confirm with the organizer before planning a trip around an event.